Side curtain for vehicle-tops



J. L. REIDER.

SiDE CURTAIN FOR VEHICLE TOPS.

APPLICAHON FILED NOV.2l, 1917.

1 363,35 1 Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. L. REIDER.

'SIDE cum/am FOR VEHICLE TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 2h 19]?- 1,363 ,35 1 Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHED 2.

II VVENTOR dizkx h UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. REIDER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO HARRY E. URBAN AND ONE-THIRD T0 WILLIAM B. BROWN, BOTH OF PITTS- BURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIDE CURTAIN FOR VEHICLE-TOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. BEIDER, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Side Curtains for Vehicle-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to'side curtains for vehicle tops, and more especially for use on automobiles or similar vehicles having a folding top. The object of the invention is to provide a side curtain arrangement for vehicles in which the curtains can be applied to close the sides, or rolled up to open up the sides, much more quickly and with less trouble than with side curtains as heretofore made and arranged.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile showing the side curtains closed; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through the automobile top showing the arrangements of the curtain supports from the inside; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bows and curtain supporting means on one side of the car, with the cover removed; Fig. 4.- is a perspective view of the curtain supporting means as an entirety, but with the curtain rollers omitted; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the top and curtains, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the fastening means at the lower edges of the curtains; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the same; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 3; Fig, 9 is a similar view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 10 is a sectional detail view of one of the rollers.

In general, the invention comprises side curtains for vehicles mounted on spring rollers so that they can be closed by drawing them down in the manner of ordinary window shades, and can be opened by merely allowing them to roll up under the action of the spring. The invention comprises suitable arrangement of means for mounting such spring roller curtains in the vehicle top at both sides, and in a manner which permits the supporting means to be readily removed to allow the top to be folded down.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown applied to one form of folding automobile top, and which is known in the trade as a one man top, but it will be understood that the construction illus- '5, and an extreme front how 6, the latter lying above and slightly in front of the wind shield 7. In this one man type, the b ow 6 lies in substantially a horizontal pos1t1on, and is connected to the how 5 by a toggle member 8, and the how 5 also lies only slightly inclined from a horizontal position. This is merely illustrative of one form of top to which the invention can be applied.

The device comprises a suitable rigid curtam roller support '10, which is shown in the form of a board lying horizontally and extending from thefront to the rear of the car, one on each side of the top. For convenience in storing when the top is to be put down, this curtain roller support is made collapsible, and, is shown formed in three sections, to-wit, a. rear section, 10, an intermediate section 10, and a forward section 10. The rear and intermediate sections are united by means of a hinge or hinges 11 to permit them being folded together, and the forward section 10 is detachably connected to the intermediate section by means of straps or tongues 12 secured to one of the parts and entering suitable sockets 13 on the other part- This curtain roller support lies immediately underneath the top 2 at the side edges, and substantially at the lower edge of the down curved portion 2 of said top. It is made of a length to extend from end to end of the top and has its outer edge 14 formed on a contour to fit against the top, with suitable notches as at 15 and'15, to fit around the bows of thetop, and a notch 15 fitting against the wind shield at the forward end. It is removably secured to the top in any suitable way, the drawings showing for this purpose, a bracket 16 at the rear end for securin the same to the rear how 3; abracket 1 for securing the the car, the drawings showing; en

same to the rear intei'ined' ei'; lar braciret 18 for SQCUIL it to th m iana detachably fastening; the scv :al to the hows, the brackets 16, 1?, i8, and 1 are provided at their upper ends with p forations which fit over stud bolts :2). secured to the bows and receivii ctr-hire thumb nuts 22, while the bracli t0 has a curved portion which its over t in l tal portion 0;"? the how (3. This piOflo"? simple means for detachably mounti g; the curtain roller support in the top ing it firmly in position.

The inner edge oi? said curtain roller support extends substantially pa allel with the top oi the vehicle body and lies sul stantially directly above the same.

In order to square the side openings. so

that roller curtains can be applied thereto suitable vertical members are provided at the front and rear, and GXtQHClUlQ' from this curtain roller support to the vehicle body tor the and which serve as attaching); means edges of supplementary end curt in are not mounted on rollers. is s. at the front and rear end tl'iere is 2 rod 25 provided at its upper end eye fitting a loop member the support 10 so as to permit to be folded up on top oi the nu; 10 as shown in. dotted lines at the forward end of Fig. 1 and which member its lower end is provided with an eye which is secured to an ordinary turi.

the vehicle body, such as the i now used for fastening the odor tains.

Supplementary curtain sec" are provided at the front end, 0: :troin the ends of the w'. shield tr front vertical rods ear and at the rear end, co nientary curtain sections rear portion of the vehicl secured to the rear rods r described there is provided a rectangular opening; on each vehicle top extending between the rod. at the forward and rear ends. res

tiVQlY'FTZLIKl which rectangular apenriclosed by means of spring; roller ...ot ate l curtains. The number of such. C1 each side will. depend upon the l ment for a short car in which tw on each side are provideth but with longer cars it is preferred to have three rollers on each side.

he illustrated, at the front ent. of the ca", opposite the t out door 31 and tie drivers seat, is one curtain 32,

V V mounted on a roller 2535, which is mounted on top of the support it), and the remainder" of the side opening is cl sed by another curtain. mounted on a roller also mounted on top or support 10. These rollers 33 ant. are of the well ltnmvn s nking--actuated typ 'lhe on; roller is mounted in brackets T323 u therebetwecin and such owerlupping; preterably must be vith the rear cg oi" rout curtain lying outsi ..e the t orwaia of the rear curtain, C nsequently tn.

l J. a i" if i v. 1 i brackets ior the trout :Oilt air A. 7 a! i ,1 i l *w A! utside oi those lor the lea: ollei 9 and in order to peiinu rear edge or the H'Olit curtain t, pass bracket 88 for the forward edge of the r ar curtaiiu this bracket is formed with a cd or oilset portion it) which W ovides underneath the same a space ll through wlilh the 1' ar edge of the iiront curtain pass. Consequently the nccting edgzjes adacent curtains overlap and form a plete closure. in case three rollers are the brac t at the forward end e two l."z)li11055 curtains will be (it the uctiou illust ted for the bracket .in to the veh or the outsid n pull dn .11 c c llUl ly a nd also so ,1. ins can. be

'tll, down and fas ene tle outside l t 1-? czr i outdoors. Its a s fastening: means for this, and in orcer reduce the nun'iber ct 'l'fasteniu a means there is inserted in a loop 4'7 lower edge 4 ea'n nurture. a llfjjll l 1., a small each curtai of the vehicle body th curtain provided i t which an. be passed over 2 button while for ot the ve iicle body the s rip i3 is provided with a tongue d6 whi h projects ini then downwarolyi so as to fit u ordinary turn to the inside and over the top "I h vehicle body, and the downturnd pro. is liGVldfiCl l O D llU with an opening 48 fitting over an ordinary turn button 49.

The curtain rollers 33 and 35 are mounted on top of the support 10, so that when said curtains are closed, they are drawn tightly over the inner edge of said support 10. The springs of the rollers will be made quite strong so as to hold the curtains absolutely taut; and since the meeting edges of adjacent curtains overlap as shown, a complete closure for the side of the car is provided.

With the arrangement shown, the sides of the car can be quickly closed from the inside without the necessity of either getting out of the car, or reaching outside of the same. They can be opened up in equally short time by merely unfastening the lower edges of the curtains whereupon the spring rollers auto matically roll up the curtains and store them away in the top, entirely out of the way. Also the curtains can be very quickly closed and fastened from the outside as is desirable when leaving the car standing outdoors in inclement weather.

hen it is desired to lower the top the curtain rollers will be removed from their brackets, the lower ends of the rods 25 released from the body, and the support 10 removed by loosening thumb nuts 22, whereupon said support can be folded, and together with the curtain roller stored underneath the seat, or other. suitable storage place.

The arrangement illustrated is intended merely for one size of vehicle and for one construction and arrangement of the bows for such tops. The device can be adapted to any form of top, by properly proportioning and shaping the member 10, notching it out to pass around the bows wherever they are located and locating the supporting brackets in position to fasten to the bows.

What I claim is:

l. A side curtain arrangement for foldable vehicle tops comprising, in combina tion, curtain supports extending longitudinally of the top, said supports being horizontally disposed and having their outer edges conforming to and fitting against the sides of the top and having their inner edges straight, spring rollers carrying curtains mounted on said su ports and arranged. to have the curtains pu led laterally and downwardly over and in contact with the inner straight edges of the supports, and means for fastening the lower edges of the curtain to the vehicle body.

2. A side curtain arrangement for foldable vehicle tops comprislng, in combination, curtain supports formed in collapsible sections and extending longitudinally of the top, said supports being horizontally disposed and having their outer edges conforming to and fitting against the sides of the top and having their inner edges straight, spring curtain rollers mounted on the top of said supports and arranged to have the curtain pulled downwardly therefrom over and in contact with the straight inner edges of said supports, and means for fastening the loxger edges of the curtain to the vehicle b0 y.

3. A side curtain arrangement for foldable vehicle tops comprising, in combination, curtain supports extending longitudinally of the top and being horizontall 1 disposed and having their outer edges con orming to and fitting against the sides of the top and having their inner edges straight, detachable means for connecting said supports to the bows of the collapsible top, spring curtain rollers mounted on said supports and arranged to have the curtain pulled therefrom laterally and downwardly over and in con tact with the straight inner edges of the supports and means for fastening the lower edges of the curtains to the vehicle body.

4;. A side curtain arrangement for collapsible vehicle tops comprising, in combina tion, curtain supports extending lon itudinally of the top and being horizontally disposed and having their outer edges confor ing to and fitting against the sides of-the top and having their inner edges straight, spring curtain rollers mounted on top of said supports and arranged to have the curtain pulled therefrom over and in contact with the straight inner edges of said supports, brackets for mounting said spring rollers, the brackets at the forward edge of the curtains to the rear being constructed to permit the rear edges of the forward curtain to pass underneath the same, and means for fastening the lower edge of the curtain to the vehicle body.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN L. REIDER. Witness:

GLENN H. LERESOHE. 

